NEET now compulsory for Allied & Healthcare Courses from 2026-27: NCAHP Rule Change

Big update on NEET 2026 Qualification!  For the academic year 2026-27, the NEET Score is now considered for admission into various allied and healthcare programmes offered by NCAHP. The direct admission to those programmes has now ended.

In a recent press release,  the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) mentioned that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will now be mandatory for admission to undergraduate (UG) allied and healthcare programs. The NEET UG 2026 is scheduled to be held on May 3rd, 2026. All the students who want to pursue the  AHP programmes after 12th standard must start their preparation for the NEET exam with the help of the syllabus and previous year question papers.

Key Notes: 

• Direct Admission to the Allied and Healthcare UG Courses is now discontinued.
• NCAHP’s new rules require NEET 2026 qualification for admissions to physiotherapy, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, dialysis technology, and therapy programmes.
• All the changes are implemented from the upcoming academic year i.e 2026–27

NEET 2026 Scores in now considered for AHP programmes

Beginning with the academic year 2026-27, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will be required for admission to numerous undergraduate allied and healthcare programmes. NCAHP reported that it has already notified 13 curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the Allied and Healthcare category, all of which will be implemented in the forthcoming academic session.The commission stated that students wishing to pursue chosen allied and healthcare professional courses following Class 12 or an equivalent qualifying examination must take the NEET in addition to meeting all other course-specific eligibility requirements.

NCAHP Rule Change Press Release

As per the NCAHP Act, 2021, the entry criteria for admission to Allied and Healthcare courses are to be defined and have been incorporated in the notified curricula. In the majority of curricula notified have one of the eligibility criteria for admission is appearing in the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam over and above other criteria. Admission to these courses is slated to begin from the 2026–27 academic year,” the official statement read.

About NCAHP

In India, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) is the governing authority for Allied and Healthcare UG Courses. It covers all AHPs which were not covered by the National Medical Commission, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council of India, and Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) until 2021. NCAHP is responsible for regulating education and professionals related to these programmes. For better regulation, these AHP programmes are divided into all ten categories,

All categories of the Allied and Healthcare UG Courses come under NCAHP as follows

Sharing is caring!